Creating a New Formula

Formulas are constructed with variables, fields, operators, functions and even other formulas. RL6:Claims users, for example, might create a formula that takes the difference between the Indemnity Reserve Total and Indemnity Paid formulas and then add that to the Indemnity Zero-out variable to determine the indemnity balance (i.e., {Indemnity Reserve Total}-{Indemnity Paid}+[$Indemnity Zero-out]). The curly brackets represent formulas and the square brackets are variables and fields. When the Display formula in UI box is checked, this formula can be seen in the Transaction grid. RL6:Feedback users, for example, might create a formula that calculates how many days have elapsed between the Date of Notification and the Resolution Date (i.e., CAST("timespan", [#DateNotified] - [#ResolutionDate])).

To create a new formula:

  1. Access the Formulas page, choose the Module, and click New.
  2. Type the Formula Name (required) and Description (if desired).
  3. Choose the Table to which it is bound. The Fields available are filtered (step 6).
  4. Choose the Formula Type to determine how the computation is formatted.
  5. Note: If calculating fields on a form, the formula type must match the field’s content type. If the CAST function is used, the value selected here must match the CAST type.
  6. Click in the Formula box. Items from step six are added where the cursor appears.
  7. Double click a Variable, Formula, Field, or OperatorClosedThe instructions used to evaluate a number, date or text string: greater than (>), equal to (=), or contains, to name a few. Operators are use to build ad hoc searches, report parameters and alert conditions./Function, to add it to the box. Repeat as necessary.
  8. Note: Fields can be used when the calculation takes place between fields in the same table. If the fields reside in different tables, variables (defined by RLDatix) must be used.
  9. Click Verify to validate formula. Click OK.
  10. Click OK to save the new formula.